It Was a Blue Book

Time for spooky music again to define a situation that goes beyond coincidence into the surreal.

The woman came into the store, drifted around and stopped in front of the large section of children's books.  She didn't move in to touch them, just gazed at the wall.  I went to her to ask whether she needed any help.

"Do you have old children's school books?"  I told her Yes, expecting her next question to be the universal Dick and Jane? and I was prepared to answer No.  She asked instead whether I had any school books about Chicago history.  I told her if a book has any reference to Chicago I put it in the Chicago section, and pointed to the nine shelves of Chicago books.

She turned her back on the children's books, and looked  at the expanse of Chicago.  "It was a paperback, blue, a history book," she said.  "Would you be thinking of the school edition of the Wacker Plan of Chicago?  I don't have it now, but it isn't blue."  "No, it was blue."

I said, "Sorry, it doesn't ring a bell."  I know I don't have such a book.

Twenty minutes later she is still there.  She started at the bottom and was touching every book.  "Lots of luck," I am thinking ungraciously.

She comes to my table with a soft cover book.  "How much is it?"  I look, "$10. plus .80 tax."  She opens her wallet and counts out the money.  "I am glad you found something," I say.

"This is the book," she tell me in an ordinary voice.  "This is the book?" I scream.  I look at this blue book, and continue bellowing, "You found it? I have it?"  I read the title: Pioneer Life, a Study of Chicago, by Ganey, published 1935.  I flip through it, and find it lists questions with answers penciled in by some child.  "It's not my copy," she explains, "but I remember all these questions.  I'm glad it has the answers."

I'm gaping at her, and finally she gets it.  She says," I've been looking for it for years.  I had it in my 4th grade and I could never forget it.  I mean, you said you didn't have it, but I felt I couldn't walk away.  I just felt I had to stay here and look until I found it."

"Wow," I said, "Wow," as I slipped it in a bag.  "I am so glad you didn't walk out."

She took the bag, and before she turned away, she kissed me.

---Florence

Comments

[Ellen]

OH FLORENCE.

What a story.

What a smile for our hearts, us readers that is.

There IS joy in mudville.

Love,
Ellen :-)

[artshay]

Before my very writerly eyes my beautiful wife, whom I encouraged to write to little avail over the years- has become a WRITER. What a beautiful evocation of a tiny event in three lives- - the third being the life of the best little bookstore in the world.

[donald gerson]

I do not have to read any comments about how great my sister is. I have always known what a loving, kind, intelligent and of course beautiful women that she is.I love you florence.

[Francine Shay]

What a sweet lovely story. You continue to entertain me with your sensitive writing.
Love,
Francine

[Catherine Braendel]

Florence - that is a great retelling and one of life's reminders that we don't know everything (I get those a lot, myself.)

I so enjoyed meeting you last evening and look forward to vising your shop--game in hand.

[steve shay]

"She took the bag, and before she turned away, she kissed me."

On the lips?

Great story, Mom. am glad Dad encouraged you to write.

[Joel M. Stein]

Florence, it was a joy meeting you today. Thank you for insisting on buying my first published book, and thank you for teaching me how to properly sign it (cover page, always--not the inside cover.) I have creased back far too many of them until now--shame, shame. You are a lovely woman, and I am honored to have met you.